Career advice for uni students

It depends on the industry. If you’re hoping to work in investment banking, management consulting or top-tier law, then yes, it does. Firms often filter for a Distinction average (75+) or higher. For most Graduate Programs, a credit average (65+) is the standard cutoff.

But don’t despair if you have a lower WAM. Your relevant experience (internships, projects) and soft skills can be just as important, if not more, than your grades once you meet the minimum threshold. For example, a student with a 65 WAM and three internships will often beat a student with an 85 WAM and zero experience.

Check your status with our weighted average mark calculator.

In Australia, two pages is the standard; one page is more common in the US.  However, if you have significant relevant experience and are operating at the top of your profession, you might have a one-page resume. 

As a student, you likely need two pages to elaborate on transferable skills from casual jobs, society roles, or volunteering experience. But don’t fluff to fill up two pages. Remember – it’s about quality over quantity.

Use the UNSW Resume Guide to see how to format a two-page resume correctly.

You have more experience than you realise – you just need to think more broadly!

For example, executive roles in student societies count as leadership experience and can often be the tie-breaker in grad applications.

You can also use Forage to get brand-name experience on your CV in under a day (it’s free for UNSW students).

Tip: Don't just apply to posted ads. Find contacts on LinkedIn at organisations where you would like to work and send a polite, quick message detailing your interest. 

It’s rarely too late to switch degrees and there’s no point continuing to study something that isn’t right for you. Check the Internal Program Transfer (IPTP) to follow the correct procedures to protect your academic record so far. 

When you know what degree you want to switch to, you might not need to reapply through UAC. If you meet the WAM requirement (usually 65-75, depending on the program), you could transfer internally. Our Program Transfer Guide has all the details. 

It depends on where you want to work. Generally, for big businesses, it’s a hard no. Those that take large graduate intakes, such as Deloitte or CommBank, have fixed Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. That means everyone gets paid the same. 

However, smaller companies, where you are applying for a specific role rather than a mass intake, might welcome some negotiation. You need to know how to do it properly, though: take the Pay Negotiation online course to learn how.

The first thing you need to check is your visa rights to work in Australia. As a student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during terms, but once you graduate, you’ll need to become familiar with the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa. 

You’ll also want to know how to fit into an Australian workplace. Employers are looking for people with soft skills such as communication and collaboration.

Join the Professional Development Program (PDP). It specifically includes a module on Australian Workplace Culture and a volunteer placement to get local experience on your CV.